by Naftali Bendavid
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) did not exactly create a juggernaut in his recent presidential run, winning minimal support before dropping out of the race.
Nonetheless, today he threw whatever influence he has behind Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, whose own campaign is facing financial challenges after finishing a close second to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the South Carolina primary.
And Huckabee, no doubt, is happy to get the endorsement.
Here is Hunter’s statement:
“I got to know Governor Huckabee well on the campaign trail. Of the remaining candidates I feel that he is strongly committed to strengthening national defense, constructing the border fence and meeting the challenge of China’s emergence as a military superpower that is taking large portions of America’s industrial base.
“Along with these issues of national security, border enforcement and protecting the U.S. industrial base, I see another quality of Mike Huckabee’s candidacy that compels my endorsement. Mike Huckabee is a man of outstanding character and integrity. I saw that character over the last year of campaigning and was greatly impressed. The other Republican candidates have many strengths and I wish them all well. My personal choice is Mike Huckabee.”